2012 Game-By-Game: Week 6

In Week 6 of the 2012 season, the Broncos travel to Qualcomm Stadium to take on Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Over the next few weeks, DenverBroncos.com will take a look at the team's 2012 schedule week-by-week, including a look at the last time the teams faced off, what to watch for this season and more. The Broncos' Week 6 game is a pivotal matchup against a divisional foe, the San Diego Chargers.

THE LAST TIME: The Broncos won their fourth game in a row in Week 12 last year as they beat they beat the Chargers on November 27th at Qualcomm Stadium. Denver ran the ball 51 times as Willis McGahee lead the charge with 23 carries for 117 yards en route to another comeback victory by a score of 16-13.

Kicker Matt Prater scored the last nine points of the game, including the game-tying field goal with 3:53 left in the fourth quarter and the game-winner with 2:02 left in overtime.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR: If the Broncos are going to repeat in 2012 as divisional champions, knocking off the Chargers on the road would be huge. Last year, San Diego finished just a game behind the Broncos with an 8-8 record. Dating back to 2005, the Chargers have taken 10 of the last 13 contests from the Broncos.

KEY MATCHUP: Philip Rivers and Chargers Receiving Corps vs. Broncos SecondaryThe Chargers lost their 2011 leading receiver Vincent Jackson to free agency, but Chargers General Manager A.J Smith has made a valiant effort to fill the void that Jackson leaves. San Diego brought in three veteran receivers in the offseason in Robert Meachem, Roscoe Parrish and (former Bronco) Eddie Royal. They also still have weapons such as tight end Antonio Gates and wide receiver Malcom Floyd, who combined to catch 107 passes for more than 1,600 yards in 2011.

The Broncos secondary also made key additions in the offseason, adding cornerbacks Tracy Porter and Drayton Florence as well as safety Mike Adams. With all three of those newcomers in at least their fifth year in the league and 11-time Pro Bowler cornerback Champ Bailey returning, the Broncos are deeper and more experienced in the defensive backfield.

In the Week 6 matchup between the Chargers and Broncos, San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers will have to prove he has jelled quickly with his new receivers. If Rivers looks out of sync with the receiving core, the Denver's veteran secondary will gladly hand the ball back to the offense.

NOTES: The two teams will be facing off for the 105th time…Denver is 20-32 at San Diego…The Broncos will face their former wide receiver Eddie Royal, who signed with the Chargers as a free agent in the offseason, for the first time.